Apparatus for making baskets



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B. P. BOBBITT. APPARATUS FOR MAKING BASKETS.

No. 463,714. Patented Nov. 24, 1891.

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B. P. BOBBITT. APPARATUS FOR MAKING BASKETS. No; 463,714. Patented Nov. 24,1891.

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.have invented certain new and useful Im- BENJAMIN F. BOBBITT,

PATENT UFFICE.

OF DYER, TENNESSEE.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BASKETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,714, dated November 24, 1891.

Application filed March 9, 1891.

T0 coZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. BoBBrrT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dyer, in the county of Gibson and State of Tennessee,

provements in Apparatus for Making Baskets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the devices for making baskets-such as are used, for instance, for receiving and transporting small fruits; and it has for its object to furnish an improved form or skeleton frame which shall be less cumbersome than the solid molds now in use, and which by its peculiar construction shall allow the production of a basket united by sewing together the parts, and which shall be at the same time more durable and better shaped.

In the manufacture of baskets of the kind specified it is the common practice to ,use solid blocks or molds, over which the various leaves or strips of wood forming the same are bent into shape, the said leaves or strips be ing finally fastened together with small nails.

In order to carry out the objects of my invention, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherem- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved form for making baskets, and Fig. 2 the outside encircling band accompanying the same. Fig. 3 is a like view showing the .various leaves or strips of Wood of which the basket is composed bent upon the mold approximately into shape preliminary to being permanently fastened together, and Fig. 4 is a like view of the finished basket.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

A is the form or skeleton frame upon which the basket is shaped and put together, consisting, essentially, of the two metallic bands 13 O, forming the top and bottom of the frame, respectively, riveted at the corners to the upright metallic strips D, which are prolonged above the top of the frame, so as to form ears Serial N... 384,276. (No model.) I

E, as shown, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

F is a metallic band for temporarily inclosing the leaves of wood of which the basket is to be formed, and holding them in position upon the frame A during the operation of fastening them permanently together.

G and II represent the two leaves of wood of which the basket is mainly formed, and I and J the narrow strips running around the top of the basket on the outside and inside, respectively, while the whole is shown permanently held together, Fig. 4, by the wire stitches L L around the top and the tack K in the bottom.

The parts of my invention being constructed and arranged as described,the method of operating it is as follows: Two leaves of wood G H are placed at right angles to each other and bent into the shape shown over the form or skeleton frame A, a band F being pulled over them, so as to hold them firmly against the frame, and a small tack K being put through the bottom in the ordinary manner. Narrow strips I J are then bent in the position indicated, so as to embrace between them the leaves G H, forming the main portion of the basket, and the ears E, extending above the top of the frame, serve to hold the inner strip J in shape. IVhen the various leaves and strips have thus assumed their proper re lation to one another, the Whole is placed in a wire-sewing machine, and stitches, as at L, are taken at intervals around the top of the basket. It will be noted that the band B of the frame comes only about to the lower edge of the top strip J, so that the sewing operation is easily performed, and I find that the wire stitching holds the various parts of the basket together much more firmly than the tacks ordinarily employed, thus increasing the durability of the article.

It is obvious that my invention is applicable not alone to the manufacture of baskets such as I have described, but it may be used, for instance, on baskets made up of a different number of leaves or leaves differently arranged, its essential features being the substitution of a form or skeleton frame for the solid mold now in use, thus permitting the basket to be stitched together with wire or the like in a sewinganachine, instead of being nailed, as required with the solid molds heretofore in use.

I do not mean to claim as a part of my present application a basket constructed in the manner described, as I contemplate making that part of my invention the subject of a distinct application.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. An improved form for use in the manufacture of baskets for small fruits and the like, consisting of a rigid skeleton frame made up of strips of metal or other suitable material upon which the various members forming the basket are bent, and an encircling band forinclosing said members and holding them temporarily in position on the form whilebeing permanently fastened together, substantially as described.

2. An improved form for use in the manufacture of baskets for small fruits and the like, consisting of a skeleton frame made up of the bands B O and upright corner strips D, riveted thereto, and the encircling band F, said frame being provided at its corners with ears projecting above the top thereof, all substantially as and for the purposesdescribecl.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. BOBBITT.

Witnesses:

R. L. CRENSHAW, J12, ll. F. JONES. 

